Mailing form with integral replay envelope attached

ABSTRACT

A mailing form having a plurality of fold lines therein to provide a plurality of rectangular panels, a first of said panels containing a cut-out portion which registers upon folding with a space on an adjacent panel provided for addressee information, the entire form in at least partially folded condition adapted for insertion into a window envelope with the addressee space and registered cut-out portion aligned with the window of the envelope. The mailing form also includes a third panel disposed between the first and second panels and adapted for return addressee information and constituting the front face of a severable replay envelope, the reverse side of the reply envelope being constituted by the second named panel.

22 Filed:'

United States Patent 1191 Buchheit 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] MAILING FORM WITH INTEGRAL REPLAY ENVELOPE ATTACHED [75] Inventor: Joseph J. Buchheit, Bayside, NY.

[73] Assigneez Reply-O-Letter Company, Inc., New

, York,N.Y.

Feb. 8, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 113,141

[52] US. Cl ..229/92.3

51 rm. Cl. .,.....B65d 27/04 [58] Field of Search ..229/71, 73, 92.1, 92.3, 92.7,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Howard ..229/73 Ruffalo.....

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 121,469 5/1946 Australia ..229/92.l

Primary ExaminerDonald F. Norton Attorney-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [57] ABSTRACT A mailing form having a plurality of fold lines therein to provide a plurality of rectangular panels, a first of said panels containing a cut-out portion which registers upon folding with a space on an adjacent panel provided for addressee information, the entire form in at least partially folded condition adapted for insertion into a window envelope with the addressee space and registered cut-out portion aligned with the window of the envelope. The mailing form also includes a third panel disposed between the first and second panels and adapted for return addressee information and constituting the front face of a severable replay en- .velope, the reverse side of the reply envelope being constituted by the second named panel.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures MAILING FORM WITII INTEGRAL REPLAY ENVELOPE ATTACHED The present invention relates to mailing forms of the type adapted for standardized, relatively large volume, commercial mailings, for example, soliciting inquiries and orders in connection with products and services of various types, soliciting inquiries regarding life insurance, questionnaires in connection with various polls, etc. The mailing form of the present invention comprises a unitary sheet having a plurality of fold lines therein providing a plurality of similar panels, a first of said panels having a cut-out portion therein, a second panel having space thereon adapted for addressee information, the first and second panels being adapted for folding one against the other to bring said cut-out portion in register with said space. A third panel is provided between said first and second panels, adapted for return addressee information, and constituting the front face of a severable reply envelope portion, the reverse side of said reply envelope constituted by said second panel. A modification of this embodiment includes additional folded panels contiguous respectively with said second and third panels to provide a return envelope of expanded size.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel mailing form for insertion into an original window envelope, the mailing form including a plurality of interrelated panels that not only provide the original addressee information for exposure through said window but also provide a severable return envelope portion;

another object is to provide a large volume mailing form including the original addressee information, as well as the return envelope and return addressee information all on a single sheet;

a further object is to provide an integral mailing form including the return envelope, of a simple and economic construction;

an additional object is to provide a unitary, single sheet mailing form construction that is easily imprinted, folded and handled for mailing.

Other objects and features will appear in the following description and appended claims and in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a mailing form according to the present invention enclosed in a window envelope;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the relationship of the window envelope to the enclosed mailing form;

FIG. 3 shows the mailing form in its partially unfolded original condition; a

FIG. 4 is an'exploded view showing the relationship of the reply envelope portion and enclosure;

FIG. 5 shows the reply envelope portion ready for mailing;

FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment of the invention in completely folded condition;

FIG. 7 shows the second embodiment in partially folded condition;

FIG. 8 shows the flat, unfolded sheet of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 9 shows the flat, unfolded sheet of the first embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIG. 9, one embodiment of the mailing form of the present invention is shown and designated generally by reference numeral 10. It is comprised of a generally rectangular sheet 11 which may be of any suitable material for use in the mails such as standard envelope quality paper. Sheet 11 is provided with a plurality of spaced parallel fold lines 12 running across its shorter dimension to define a plurality of smaller rectangular panels 13. At the left of form 11 as viewed in FIG. 9 is a return envelope portion constituted by panels 17 and 18 which are adapted to be folded against one another to form a return envelope 16 as shown in FIG. 3 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5 Panel 17 of the return envelope portion has a greater side dimension than end panel 18 providing exposed area I9 adjacent fold line 12b containing a strip 20 of mucilage or the like along its underside to provide a sealingflap for the return envelope after it has been manually separated from the rest of the form 11 along fold line 12b as will be described below. End panel 18 contains on its exposed face 21, constituting the reverse side of the return envelope, original addressee information 22.

Intermediate panel 23, adjacent panel 17, contains a cut-out portion 24 which registers with the original addressee information 22 von panel 18 when the latter is folded against panel 23 for insertion into the original window envelope 25.

Additional panels 26 and 27 are provided on form 1 l to carry any suitable information such as advertising, questionnaires, etc.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6-8. Referring to FIG. 8, the mailing form is constitutedby generally rectangular sheet 28 having transverse fold lines 29, 30, 31 and longitudinal fold line 32 dividing form 28 into a plurality of rectangular panels 33 as shown, constituting two adjacent rows of contiguous panels.

The lower lefthand panel 34 as viewed in FIG. 8 contains original addressee information 35. Adjacent panel 36 and panel 37 above it constitute the front face of a return or reply envelope having thereon the return addressee information 38 and any other standard mailing information, including postage as may be desired. Immediately to the right of panel 36 is panel 39 containing cut-away portion 40. The remaining panels of form 28 may be utilized for advertising, questionnaires, etc. as desired.

-When form 28 is folded along lines 29 and '30 so that the reverse side of panel 34 lies against the reverse side ofpanel 36, the addressee information 35 of panel 34 can be registered with and be exposed through cut-out portion 40 of panel 39,'as shown in FIG. 7.

In using the first embodiment described above, and as shown in FIG. 3, form 11 may be folded along fold lines I2b, 12c and 12d in such a way that panel 18 is folded against panel 23 so that addressee information 22 is brought into register and exposed through cut-out portion 24 and panels 26 and 27 are folded against one another and behind panel 17 (the reverse side of panel 18) as shown in FIG. 2. The folded form is then insertable into envelope 25 as shown in FIG. 1 with the original addressee information 22 and cut-out portion 24 registering with window 41.

Upon receipt by the original addressee, return envelope portion 16 of the form is manually severable from the rest of form 11 along line 12b which may be mechanically weakened as shown in FIG. 3. Upon enclosure of the questionnaire or the like as provided on panels 26 and/or 27, in return envelope 16, the flap 19 thereof can be sealed after moistening of adhesive strip 20.

The second embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 is handled in a manner similar to the first embodiment with the exception that after folding form 28 along lines 29 and 30 to expose original addressee information through cutout portion 40, and then folding along line 31 to further reduce the overall size of the sheet to that shown in FIG. 7, then lefthand folded portion 42 of form 28 as shown in FIG. 7 may be folded behind righthand folded portion 43 as shown in FIG. 6 and then inserted into a suitable window envelope (not shown) for the original mailing.

When used for the return or reply, a return envelope portion is provided by panels 34 and 36, together with their respective adjacent panels 44 and 37 by severing the form 28 along line 30, which may be mechanically weakened or perforated as shown. The flap for the return envelope is provided by the edge portion of panels 36 and 37 adjacent fold line 30, the reverse side of which may be provided with a longitudinal adhesive strip (not shown). Similarly, adhesive means is provided along the side edges of the return envelope panels.

The remaining panels of form 28 may carry advertising, questionnaires and the like for the original addressee, portions of which may be enclosed in the return envelope by the original addressee.

The term mailing form" as used herein to describe the present invention includes the reply envelope structures described in detail above, as well as a return envelope structure wherein the folded second and third panels are not sealed together along their side edges, but only are scalable along the flap portion, and additionally a return card structure in which the second and third panels are adhered together substantially across their facing surfaces to provide a severable return card having the required weight for use in the U. S. Postal System.

I claim:

1. A mailing form comprising the combination of a window envelope and a unitary sheet comprised of a plurality of fold lines therein providing a plurality of smaller panels, a first of said panels having a cutout portion therein, a second panel thereof having space thereon adapted for addressee information, said first and second panels adapted to be folded against one another to bring said cut-out portion in register with said space, and the entire sheet in folded condition adapted for insertion intothe window envelope with said space and registered cut-out portion aligned with said window.

2. A mailing form comprising the combination ofa window envelope and a unitary sheet comprised of a plurality of fold lines therein providing a plurality of rectangular panels, a first of said panels having an elongated cut-out portion therein, a second panel thereof having space thereon adapted for addressee information, said first and second panels adapted to be folded against one another to bring said cutout portion in register with said space, and the entire sheet in folded condition adapted for insertion into the window envelope with said space and registered cut-out portion ali ne'd with said window.

. The mailing form of claim 2 in which a third of said panels, disposed between said first and second panels, is adapted for return addressee information and constitutes the front face of a reply envelope, the reverse side of said reply envelope constituted by said second panel, said first and second panels having facing edges.

4. In the form according to claim 3, said panels constituting said envelope being sealed along their facing edges.

5. The mailing form according to claim 4 including additional panels adapted for manual separation from said first three panels and inclusion in said reply envelope.

6. The mailing form according to claim 5, including additional folded panels contiguous respectively with said second and third panels to provide a return envelope of expanded size.

7. A mailing form comprising a generally rectangular sheet having a plurality of transverse fold lines and at least one longitudinal fold line, said fold lines forming a plurality of two adjacent rows of rectangular panels,

a first of said panels in one row having original addressee information,

a second of said panels, in said same row adjacent to said first panel, and a third of said panels contiguous to said second panel in said other row, both of said second and third panels having space thereon for return addressee information and constituting the front face of a reply envelope, the reverse side of which is constituted at least in part by said first panel, fourth of said panels contiguous to said second panel and in said one row, having a cut-out portion therein, said first and fourth panels adapted to be folded against each other to bring said cut-out portion in register with said first panel to expose the original addressee information thereon through said cut-out, at least one additional panel containing further information adJacent to said fourth panel, and adapted to be folded behind said first, second and fourth panels to reduce the overall size of the sheet,

said sheet being foldable along said longitudinal fold line to form a mail piece of reduced size for insertion into a suitable window envelope with said original addressee information and registered cut out portion aligned with said window, and adapted to form a return envelope of expanded size when said return envelope portion of said sheet is unfolded.

i I t i 1* 

1. A mailing form comprising the combination of a window envelope and a unitary sheet comprised of a plurality of fold lines therein providing a plurality of smaller panels, a first of said panels having a cut-out portion therein, a second panel thereof having space thereon adapted for addressee information, said first and second panels adapted to be folded against one another to bring said cut-out portion in register with said space, and the entire sheet in folded condition adapted for insertion into the window envelope with said space and registered cut-out portion aligned with said window.
 2. A mailing form comprising the combination of a window envelope and a unitary sheet comprised of a plurality of fold lines therein providing a plurality of rectangular panels, a first of said panels having an elongated cut-out portion therein, a second panel thereof having space thereon adapted for addressee information, said first and second panels adapted to be folded against one another to bring said cutout portion in register with said space, and the entire sheet in folded condition adapted for insertion into the window envelope with said space and registered cut-out portion aligned with said window.
 3. The mailing form of claim 2 in which a third of said panels, disposed between said first and second panels, is adapted for return addressee information and constitutes the front face of a reply envelope, the reverse side of said reply envelope constituted by said second panel, said first and second panels having facing edges.
 4. In the form according to claim 3, said panels constituting said envelope being sealed along their facing edges.
 5. The mailing form according to claim 4 including additional panels adapted for manual separation from said first three panels and inclusion in said reply envelope.
 6. The mailing form according to claim 5, including additional folded panels contiguous respectively with said second and third panels to provide a return envelope of expanded size.
 7. A mailing form comprising a generally rectangular sheet having a plurality of transverse fold lines and at least one longitudinal fold line, said fold lines forming a plurality of two adjacent rows of rectangular panels, a first of said panels in one row having original addressee information, a second of said panels, in Said same row adjacent to said first panel, and a third of said panels contiguous to said second panel in said other row, both of said second and third panels having space thereon for return addressee information and constituting the front face of a reply envelope, the reverse side of which is constituted at least in part by said first panel, a fourth of said panels contiguous to said second panel and in said one row, having a cut-out portion therein, said first and fourth panels adapted to be folded against each other to bring said cut-out portion in register with said first panel to expose the original addressee information thereon through said cut-out, at least one additional panel containing further information adJacent to said fourth panel, and adapted to be folded behind said first, second and fourth panels to reduce the overall size of the sheet, said sheet being foldable along said longitudinal fold line to form a mail piece of reduced size for insertion into a suitable window envelope with said original addressee information and registered cut-out portion aligned with said window, and adapted to form a return envelope of expanded size when said return envelope portion of said sheet is unfolded. 